QPU Software Engineer

QuEra Computing, Inc.; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 130,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

QuEra Computing, Inc. is seeking a Software Engineer to join the QPU SW Engineering team. You will develop the software that orchestrates and controls our quantum hardware stack—from real-time control of lasers and FPGAs to system-wide configuration, diagnostics, and feedback.

You will work with physicists, systems architects, and hardware engineers to build the tools and infrastructure that enable precise, reliable, and scalable quantum operations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in CS, EE, physics, or a related field.
• 5+ years developing software for hardware control, embedded or distributed systems.
• Strong Python and/or C/C++ programming with hardware interfaces (SPI, I2C, UART, Ethernet).
• Experience with real-time systems or hardware-in-the-loop control.
• Familiarity with timing systems (PTP) and communications stacks.
• Proficiency in system integration, testing, and performance tuning.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement software for orchestrating quantum experiments, including pulse sequence generation, device coordination, and real-time system control.
• Develop APIs and middleware connecting hardware control layers with higher‑level orchestration software and compilers.
• Implement reliable communication and synchronization protocols across embedded and distributed system components.
• Collaborate with system architects and physicists to translate experimental requirements into testable, high‑performance software features.
• Contribute to diagnostic and calibration routines for hardware validation and performance monitoring.
• Develop tooling to support automation, test infrastructure, system state management, and logging.
• Participate in system bring‑up, integration testing, and cross‑disciplinary debugging efforts.
• Contribute to software architecture decisions, code reviews, and best practices across the engineering team.

Skills

Python

C/C++

Education

Bachelor's or Master’s degree in CS/EE/Physics

Job description

We are seeking a Software Engineer to join our QPU SW Engineering team. In this role, you will develop the software that orchestrates and controls our quantum hardware stack—from real-time control of lasers and FPGAs to system-wide configuration, diagnostics, and feedback. Working closely with physicists, systems architects, and hardware engineers, you’ll build the tools and infrastructure that enable precise, reliable, and scalable quantum operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and implement software systems for orchestrating quantum experiments, including pulse sequence generation, device coordination, and real-time system control.
• Develop and maintain APIs and middleware that connect hardware control layers (e.g., FPGA, DACs, timing systems) with higher‑level orchestration software and compilers.
• Implement reliable communication and synchronization protocols across embedded and distributed system components.
• Collaborate with system architects and physicists to translate experimental requirements into testable, high-performance software features.
• Contribute to diagnostic and calibration routines for hardware validation and performance monitoring.
• Develop tooling to support automation, test infrastructure, system state management, and logging.
• Participate in system bring‑up, integration testing, and cross-disciplinary debugging efforts.
• Contribute to software architecture decisions, code reviews, and best practices across the engineering team.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience developing software for hardware control, embedded systems, or distributed systems.
• Strong programming skills in Python and/or C/C++ and experience working with hardware interfaces (e.g., SPI, I2C, UART, Ethernet).
• Experience with real‑time systems or hardware‑in‑the‑loop control environments.
• Familiarity with timing systems (e.g., PTP), and communication stacks.
• Proficiency in system integration, testing, and performance tuning.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with scientific instrumentation, lab automation, or quantum hardware control systems.
• Familiarity with FPGA systems, DAC/ADC control, or pulse sequencing frameworks.
• Exposure to embedded Linux, RTOS, or custom firmware development.
• Knowledge of calibration, feedback, or control loop algorithms.
• Experience in multidisciplinary teams working at the intersection of hardware, software, and science.

The approximate base salary range for this position is $130,000 - $170,000.

We consistently monitor external market data and update base salary ranges accordingly. We determine base compensation decisions on several factors, including as geographic placement, role‑specific knowledge, skills, and/or experience. In addition to our base salary offerings, we also provide equity grants for all new hires.

QuEra is committed to cultivating a diverse work environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We highly value diversity in our current and future employees and do not discriminate (including in our hiring and promotion practices) based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Voluntary Self-Identification

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service‑connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three‑year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.